System and method for adhesive application of a customized sole-shaped pad

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for applying an adhesive film to the sole of shoes. Application of a portion of the adhesive film can be performed by receiving a shoe on top of the adhesive film, which in turn is above a plate and compressible pins. Upon receiving the shoe, the plate is raised or lowered, and the compressible pins mark the perimeter of the sole of the shoe. The adhesive film is cut in a sole-shaped pattern due to the height differentiation, resulting in a sole-shaped portion of the adhesive film being adhered to the sole of the shoe.

PRIORITY INFORMATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. Reissue patentapplication Ser. No. 15/843,947, filed Dec. 15, 2017, which is a reissueof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/834,584, filed Mar. 15, 2013, nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,210,968, issued on Dec. 15, 2015, the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to shoe pads and more specifically to asystem and method for adhering a customized sole-shaped pad to the soleof a shoe to prevent floor contamination.

2. Introduction

Doormats serve to remove soil and contaminants from shoes as peopleenter homes, offices, or specific rooms. Typically a person will standon the doormat or will move their feet over the doormat to brush dirtoff. Standard doormats and floormats offer a time-efficient solution forremoving some of the dirt and other contaminants off of shoes, but oftenfail to prevent tracking of dirt into the home or office. Othersolutions for preventing the unintended distribution of dirt includetacky mats and shoe envelopment. For example, in the case ofprofessional basketball, the players step onto a tacky mat specificallydesigned to remove particles which may result in a player sliding orslipping on the basketball court. Clean room solutions prevent anycontamination or tracking of dirt by enveloping the shoe in a protectivegalosh or “bootie.” Covering of the shoe, while appropriate for certaincircumstances, is an undesirable solution for most homes and offices.

SUMMARY

Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forthin the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or can be learned by practice of the herein disclosedprinciples. The features and advantages of the disclosure can berealized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and otherfeatures of the disclosure will become more fully apparent from thefollowing description and appended claims, or can be learned by thepractice of the principles set forth herein.

Disclosed are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readablestorage media for adhesive application of a customized sole-shaped padto a shoe. As an example, a system configured per this disclosure can bean advanced doormat which receives an input signal indicating userreadiness to adhere shoe pads to the soles of the user's shoes. Theinput signal can be obtained via a voice command, a motion sensor(including laser, infrared, radio frequency, ultrasound, and otherformats), a spoken command, a manual button on the system, or otherappropriate input means. The system moves an adhesive film, or material,which can have micro-perforations into position over a set of pins. Theuser steps onto the adhesive film. As the user steps onto the adhesivefilm, the portion of the adhesive film directly below the sole of theshoe adheres to the shoe. The adhesive film can have a balance ofphysical characteristics where the force required to vertically shearthe film is greater than the force to perform lateral tearing. The pinsdirectly below the sole of the shoe lower or compress due to the weightof the user and the shoe.

The resulting height differential between the portion adhered to thesole of the shoe (e.g., lowered due to the weight of the user or raisedvia springs and/or motorization) and the remaining adhesive film (at theoriginal height, supported by the remaining pins) causes a shearing ofthe micro-perforations in a shape corresponding to the contour of theuser's shoe. As the user steps off of the doormat, i.e., steps off ofthe adhesive film, the sheared portion remains adhered to the shoe,preventing tracking of future dirt or other contaminants. After the usersteps off of the advanced doormat, what remains is a section of adhesivefilm with two sole-shaped holes corresponding to the sheared portions.The system collects the remainder of the adhesive film using a rollersystem or some other mechanism which causes a rotation or movement ofthe adhesive film such that a fresh portion of the adhesive film ispositioned over the pins in preparation for another user stepping ontothe doormat. The user can then walk away with the soles of their shoescovered with adhesive film. After use, the balance of physicalcharacteristics of the film allows the user to remove the entiresole-shaped piece of adhered film from their shoes in a single pull,rather than having the adhered portion fragment upon being pulled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a first example device embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a second example device embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a first example method embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a second example method embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top-down view of a third example device embodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates an example adhesive film having multiple layers;

FIG. 8 illustrates a third example method embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates a fourth example method embodiment;

FIG. 10 illustrates a fifth example method embodiment; and

FIGS. 11A-11D illustrate cartridge embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A system, method and computer-readable media are disclosed which apply acustomized sole-shaped pad to footwear, such as a shoe or sandal.Throughout this disclosure references to a shoe, sandal, or otherfootwear, are interchangeable. Various embodiments of the disclosure aredescribed in detail below. While specific implementations are described,it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposesonly. Other components and configurations may be used without partingfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosure. A brief introductorydescription of a basic general purpose system or computing device inFIG. 1 which can be employed to practice the concepts as disclosedherein. A doormat as disclosed herein can be controlled by components ofa computing device and therefore a general computing device isdiscussed. A more detailed description of adhering a customizablesole-shaped pad to a shoe will then follow with accompanying variations.These variations shall be described herein as the various embodimentsare set forth. The disclosure now turns to FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary system 100 includes ageneral-purpose computing device 100, including a processing unit (CPUor processor) 120 and a system bus 110 that couples various systemcomponents including the system memory 130 such as read only memory(ROM) 140 and random access memory (RAM) 150 to the processor 120. Thesystem 100 can include a cache 122 of high speed memory connecteddirectly with, in close proximity to, or integrated as part of theprocessor 120. The system 100 copies data from the memory 130 and/or thestorage device 160 to the cache 122 for quick access by the processor120. In this way, the cache provides a performance boost that avoidsprocessor 120 delays while waiting for data. These and other modules cancontrol or be configured to control the processor 120 to perform variousactions. Other system memory 130 may be available for use as well. Thememory 130 can include multiple different types of memory with differentperformance characteristics. It can be appreciated that the disclosuremay operate on a computing device 100 with more than one processor 120or on a group or cluster of computing devices networked together toprovide greater processing capability. The processor 120 can include anygeneral purpose processor and a hardware module or software module, suchas module 1 162, module 2 164, and module 3 166 stored in storage device160, configured to control the processor 120 as well as aspecial-purpose processor where software instructions are incorporatedinto the actual processor design. The processor 120 may essentially be acompletely self-contained computing system, containing multiple cores orprocessors, a bus, memory controller, cache, etc. A multi-core processormay be symmetric or asymmetric.

The system bus 110 may be any of several types of bus structuresincluding a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and alocal bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. A basicinput/output (BIOS) stored in ROM 140 or the like, may provide the basicroutine that helps to transfer information between elements within thecomputing device 100, such as during start-up. The computing device 100further includes storage devices 160 such as a hard disk drive, amagnetic disk drive, an optical disk drive, tape drive or the like. Thestorage device 160 can include software modules 162, 164, 166 forcontrolling the processor 120. Other hardware or software modules arecontemplated. The storage device 160 is connected to the system bus 110by a drive interface. The drives and the associated computer-readablestorage media provide nonvolatile storage of computer-readableinstructions, data structures, program modules and other data for thecomputing device 100. In one aspect, a hardware module that performs aparticular function includes the software component stored in a tangiblecomputer-readable storage medium in connection with the necessaryhardware components, such as the processor 120, bus 110, display 170,and so forth, to carry out the function. In another aspect, the systemcan use a processor and computer-readable storage medium to storeinstructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto perform a method or other specific actions. The basic components andappropriate variations are contemplated depending on the type of device,such as whether the device 100 is a small, handheld computing device, adesktop computer, or a computer server.

Although the exemplary embodiment described herein employs the hard disk160, other types of computer-readable media which can store data thatare accessible by a computer, such as magnetic cassettes, flash memorycards, digital versatile disks, cartridges, random access memories(RAMs) 150, read only memory (ROM) 140, a cable or wireless signalcontaining a bit stream and the like, may also be used in the exemplaryoperating environment. Tangible computer-readable storage mediaexpressly exclude media such as energy, carrier signals, electromagneticwaves, and signals per se.

To enable user interaction with the computing device 100, an inputdevice 190 represents any number of input mechanisms, such as amicrophone for speech, a touch-sensitive screen for gesture or graphicalinput, keyboard, mouse, motion input, speech and so forth. An outputdevice 170 can also be one or more of a number of output mechanismsknown to those of skill in the art. In some instances, multimodalsystems enable a user to provide multiple types of input to communicatewith the computing device 100. The communications interface 180generally governs and manages the user input and system output. There isno restriction on operating on any particular hardware arrangement andtherefore the basic features here may easily be substituted for improvedhardware or firmware arrangements as they are developed.

For clarity of explanation, the illustrative system embodiment ispresented as including individual functional blocks including functionalblocks labeled as a “processor” or processor 120. The functions theseblocks represent may be provided through the use of either shared ordedicated hardware, including, but not limited to, hardware capable ofexecuting software and hardware, such as a processor 120, that ispurpose-built to operate as an equivalent to software executing on ageneral purpose processor. For example the functions of one or moreprocessors presented in FIG. 1 may be provided by a single sharedprocessor or multiple processors. (Use of the term “processor” shouldnot be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executingsoftware.) Illustrative embodiments may include microprocessor and/ordigital signal processor (DSP) hardware, read-only memory (ROM) 140 forstoring software performing the operations described below, and randomaccess memory (RAM) 150 for storing results. Very large scaleintegration (VLSI) hardware embodiments, as well as custom VLSIcircuitry in combination with a general purpose DSP circuit, may also beprovided.

The logical operations of the various embodiments are implemented as:(1) a sequence of computer implemented steps, operations, or proceduresrunning on a programmable circuit within a general use computer, (2) asequence of computer implemented steps, operations, or proceduresrunning on a specific-use programmable circuit; and/or (3)interconnected machine modules or program engines within theprogrammable circuits. The system 100 shown in FIG. 1 can practice allor part of the recited methods, can be a part of the recited systems,and/or can operate according to instructions in the recited tangiblecomputer-readable storage media. Such logical operations can beimplemented as modules configured to control the processor 120 toperform particular functions according to the programming of the module.For example, FIG. 1 illustrates three modules Mod1 162, Mod2 164 andMod3 166 which are modules configured to control the processor 120.These modules may be stored on the storage device 160 and loaded intoRAM 150 or memory 130 at runtime or may be stored in othercomputer-readable memory locations.

Having disclosed some components of a computing system, the disclosurenow turns to FIG. 2, which illustrates a first example device embodiment200. FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of the device 200 with the leftside (A) empty and the right side (B) having a shoe thereon. These areasrepresent shoe receiving areas. The device 200 has unused adhesive film204 which can stored in a roll. The unused adhesive film 204 and theused adhesive film collection roll 206 can be distributed as areplaceable cartridge, described below in FIG. 11. Other configurationscan place the unused adhesive film 204 into separate sheets of adhesivefilm. At a particular time, such as after a user leaves the doormat ordetecting that a user is approaching the doormat, the device 200 spoolsunused adhesive film 204 into a fixed position over a combination ofplates 208A, 208B and pins 214, 220, 222. In the fixed position, aportion of the adhesive film 202A is positioned above, near, or incontact with plate 208A. The adhesive film 202A is held just above pins212 and/or plate 208A at an original height 224A by material elevators226, thereby preventing potential snags and inadvertent tearing.Exemplary heights at which the material elevators 226 can maintain theadhesive film 202A above the plate 208A include ⅛″, ¼″, ½″, or otherselected height.

The pins 212 associated with the plate 208A extend through the plate208A using aligned holes to the initial height 224A, and are capable ofbeing compressed using springs, hydraulics, underlying resistanceelements or other mechanisms. An example of the pins 212 and plate 208Amechanism is provided by Benson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,654,705, issuedNov. 25, 2003, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety. Asdescribed and illustrated by Benson et al., the pins can be used todefine the perimeter of a user's foot, or shoe, by placing the user'sshoe onto the plate/pins device. In addition to the perimeter of theshoe, the plate/pins combination disclosed by Benson et al. can also beused to measure the vertical contours of the sole itself.

Below the pins, the device 200 can have a layer of elastomeric material214 which can cushion the pins 212. On either side of the plate 208,pistons 210, or mechanical elevators, help raise and lower the plate208A before and after use. The pistons 210 can be hydraulic, mechanical(such as a screw mechanism), springs, or any acceptable raising andlowering mechanism, and can operate automatically or based oninstructions from a processor or computing device 228. In circumstanceswhere the person is not standing on the doormat 200, the pistonsmaintain the plate 208A at a specified height 224A, just below theadhesive film 202A. Operations of the device 200 can be initiated viaprocessor 228, as described by the system 100 of FIG. 1, and/ormechanically driven. If operated by a processor 228, instructions arecommunicated from the processor 228 to device 200 components by bus orother communication paths. The device 200 can use motors and sensorsthroughout the device 200 to detect locations of components, materials,and users, as well as current states of motion and action. These motorsand sensors can interact with the processor 228 as a device controlsystem, transmitting and receiving data at various parts of the device200 throughout use. For example, sensors can indicate to the processor228 when a user has stepped onto the device 200, or when a pin 212 iscompressed, or when the plate 208A is no longer at the original height224A. In addition, the processor 228 can instruct the plate 208A toraise or lower as needed by controlling the pistons 210.

The processor 228, or a control system, can further control anyadditional hydraulics or tension systems located in the device 200. Forexample, if a known user approaches the device 200, the tension in thepins 214 can be adjusted based on the weight of the known user.Alternatively, the initial height or tension 224A of the plate 208Aand/or pins 212 may be adjusted based on time of day, temperature,weather conditions, or frequency of device use. Any number ofadjustments and control decisions can be determined by the processor 228based on specific input or via a user interface, such as a graphicaluser interface, a keyboard, a keypad, a microphone, optical scanner, orother input means.

Prior to receiving a shoe 216, and in preparation for receiving contactwith a shoe, in accordance with the principles disclosed herein, thedevice 200 will spool a portion of unused adhesive film 204 into a fixedposition. To initiate spooling, users can provide specific input or thesystem can spool based on a number of factors. For example, after aperson leaves the doormat, the system can immediately, or after apredetermined period of time (e.g., like 10 seconds), initiate spoolingto position fresh unused adhesive film 204. However, having unusedadhesive film in position for too long may result in dust, grass, orother debris being blown on or settling on the adhesive film 204 thusreducing its effectiveness. Thus, in one aspect, the system will, viamotion detection, sound detection or any other known mechanism, detectwhen a person is approaching the doormat and then spool the adhesivefilm 204. Where specific input is used, the specific input can includeinput provided by motion detection of a user, a voice command, a radiofrequency identification, or input provided by a user manually pressinga button indicating that the user is in position to use the device 200.The spooling can be triggered by a location based service in which thesystem received a communication that a particular user's smartphone isapproaching the doormat. Thus, existing location-based technology canresult in an identification of a person in general or a particularperson and the doormat can be adjusted and configured to improve theapplication of the adhesive to that person's shoes.

Alternatively, spooling can occur in the absence of any specific input,or after a time period of receiving no input. In certain embodiments,the user stepping onto the device 200 can compress a spring or othermechanism which, when the user steps off of the device 200 and releasesthe tension of the spring, spools the adhesive film. Upon spooling theadhesive film 202A into the fixed position, the device 200 is preparedto allow a user to step onto the adhesive film 202A with both feet.

Portion (B) represents when a user has stepped onto the device 200,placing their foot, having a shoe 216 thereon, onto the adhesive film202A. When the user steps onto the device 200, placing the shoe into ashoe receiving area, multiple components of the device 200 can interactsimultaneously or in direct succession. For example, upon receiving theshoe 216, the adhesive film 221 immediately below the sole of the shoe216 adheres to the sole. The plate 208B beneath the user's shoe 216lowers from the original height 224A to height 224B, resulting in aheight differential 224C. The pins 220 directly beneath the sole of theshoe 216 are compressed to height 224B, and any elastomeric material 218beneath the sole of the shoe 216 may be similarly compressed. Thecompression can occur based on the weight of the user and/or shoe, orbased on instructions from the computer processor 228.

While the pins 220 directly below the sole of the shoe 216 compress toheight 224B upon receiving the shoe, the remaining pins 222 pass throughthe lowered plate 208B, remaining at the original film height 224A. Theremainder pins 222 hold the remainder portion of the adhesive film 202B(i.e., the film not immediate below the sole of the shoe) at theoriginal film height 224A. The resulting height difference 224C betweenthe portion of the film attached to the sole 221 and the remainderportion 202B of the film results in a tearing, or shearing, of theremainder portion 202B in a pattern matching the sole of the shoe 216.This tearing, or shearing, can be due to the vertical adhesive force ofthe adhesive film attached to the shoe 221 exceeding the lateraladhesive force of the adhesive film 202B not attached to the shoe.Micro-perforations throughout the adhesive film 202 can aid thetearing/shearing action.

After the adhesion of the film to the shoe, the user steps off thedoormat 200. At this point the soles of the user's shoes have adhesivefilm 221 attached. When the user has stepped onto the doormat 200 withboth feet, the remaining adhesive film 202B has two large holescorresponding to the portions attached to the user's shoes. The device200 can then spool the used adhesive film 202B into a waste bin 206. Theremoval of the used adhesive film 202B can occur immediately, or canoccur upon receiving additional input indicating a user is preparing touse the device 200.

In practice, occasions may dictate that a user could place one shoe at atime into the device 200, or could place both shoes in the devicesimultaneously. Should the user place only a single shoe in the device200, the device can detect, by means of sensors associated with theplate 208, the mechanical elevators, the pins 212, or the elastomericmaterial 214, that one side of the device 200 has not yet been used. Thedevice 200 can determine, based on the sensor feedback, that only oneside of the adhesive film has perforations. When such a determination ismade, the control system can instruct the spooling mechanism to onlydistribute a portion a portion of the normal distribution size ofadhesive film 202A. For example, if a normal distribution of adhesivefilm has a width of 20″ for both feet, upon detecting use of only asingle foot the device 200 can distribute adhesive film having a widthof 10″. This prevents an unused portion of the adhesive film 202A frombeing wasted by erroneously directing the adhesive film 202A to wastecollection 206.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second example device embodiment 300. As with FIG.2, the left side (A) illustrates the device 300 empty, while the rightside (B) illustrates the device in use. As in FIG. 2, a roll of unusedadhesive film 304 is stored, later put into position when signalsindicate that a user is in position to use the device 300. When inposition, the adhesive film 302 rests at a first height 320A, just abovea stationary plate 328 and pins 312 on material elevators 326. Thematerial elevators 326 prevent the adhesive film 302 from gettingsnagged on stationary plate 328 and/or pins 312 during spooling. Thepins 312 can rest on an elastomeric material 310, which in turn rests onan elevator 306, or the pins 312 can rest directly on the elevator 306.The elevator 306 is attached to mechanical pistons 308 which can raiseand lower the elevator 306 during use.

When a user places a shoe 314 or shoes into the device 300, the adhesivematerial 302 between the shoe 314 and the stationary plate 328 isadhered to the shoe. Additionally, the elevator 306 is raised from anoriginal height 324A to a raised height 324B by the pistons 308, adifference of 324C. In raising the elevator 306, the elastomericmaterial 322 and the pins 316 on the elevator 306 are also raised. Thisresults in compression of pins 316 directly beneath the sole 314 of theshoe and/or compression of the elastomeric material 322. Pins on theelevator 306, but not directly beneath the sole 314 of the shoe (i.e.,the remainder pins 318) are not compressed between the elevator 306 andthe shoe 314. Instead, the remainder pins 318 are raised up with theraising of the elevator 306, and extend through the stationary plate328. The remainder pins 318 lift the portion of the adhesive film 320Bnot directly beneath the shoe 314.

Because of the difference in height between the adhered portion 320A andthe remainder portion 320B, the adhesive film 302 tears or shears in ashape corresponding to the shape of the shoe's sole. As the user removesthe shoes from the device 300, the shoes have the adhered portion 320Aattached to the soles. The remainder portion 320B has two holes in theadhesive film 302 where the portions corresponding to the adheredportions 320A were once located. The remainder 320B is later discardedand/or collected. The device 300 then instructions the pistons 308 toreturn the elevator 306 to the original height. In addition, thecompressed pins 316 can return to an uncompressed state. In alternativeembodiments, the device 300 can contain multiple elevators, rather thantwo as illustrated. In yet other embodiments, the device 300 can containa single elevator for both the left and right feet, rather than separateelevators as illustrated.

The elevators 306 are illustrated as a raising or lowering the entiretyof the pins 316 simultaneously. In other variations of the elevators306, a roller elevator or mechanism can be used to push/compress thepins upward as the roller passes beneath the user's feet. A roller (orrolling) elevator is not illustrated in FIG. 3. However, a rollerelevator would serve the same function as the illustrated elevators 306.For example, the user places the shoe on the device 300 with a rollerelevator initially located near the user's toes. Upon detecting theuser's shoe, the roller elevator rolls beneath the user's shoe from thetoes toward the user's heel. As the roller elevator rolls toward theheel the pins beneath the foot are raised when the roller elevatorpasses beneath them, resulting in raised pins 316. Therefore, in thisembodiment, the entirety of the pins 316 are not raised simultaneously,but in sequence as the roller moves from toe to heel. In otherconfigurations, the roller elevator can initiate at the heel or can makemultiple passes.

FIG. 4 illustrates a first example method embodiment. For the sake ofclarity, the method is described in terms of an exemplary device 200 asshown in FIG. 2 configured to practice the method. The steps outlinedherein are exemplary and can be implemented in any combination thereof,including combinations that exclude, add, or modify certain steps. Asystem 200 configured to practice this method embodiment receives a shoehaving a sole, wherein the sole of the shoe is in contact with anadhesive film (402). The adhesive film can be moved into position by thesystem 200 when the user arrives based on input the system 200 receivesor in any other fashion or timing. For example, when the user arrives,the system 200 can detect the user using a motion sensor, an RFID tag, alocation-based service associated with a mobile device in the possessionof the user, or a microphone which receives a voice command from theuser. The system 200 can utilize automatic speech recognition, agraphical user interface, or other interface mechanisms for receivinguser input and determining instructions based on the user input. Thesystem 200 can, in response to the input, then spools unused adhesivefilm into a position ready to receive the shoe. As noted above, thesystem can also time the movement of the adhesive film to occur after auser has left the device, on a periodic basis, or based on any otherdata such as triggering data about the weather. For example, the devicemay spool the adhesive film every hour if no one steps on the doormat tokeep the adhesive film fresh and clear of too much dust or debris.

The system 200 then applies the adhesive film to the sole of the shoe,by cutting a sole-shaped portion of the adhesive film via a sole-shapeddemarcation and shearing. The sole-shaped demarcation and shearing isachieved using a height differentiation (404) associated with pins. Forexample, the weight of the user can result in a lowering of the adhesivefilm portion directly beneath the sole of the shoe from an originalheight 224A to a lower height 224B, while the remainder portion remainsat the original height 224A. The resulting difference in height 224Cresults in a shearing of the adhesive film in a shape corresponding tothe shape of the sole.

The lowering of the adhesive film can be assisted by lowering of a plateand associated pins, which extend through the plate and can becompressed from the original height to the lower height. The pinsdirectly beneath the sole of the shoe will be compressed to the lowerheight 224B, while those pins which are not directly beneath the sole ofthe shoe will extend through the lowered plate to remain at the originalheight 224A. The pins which remain at the original height can retain aremainder portion of the adhesive film, resulting in shearing of theadhesive film.

Alternatively, the height differentiation can be accomplished by raisingthe pins which are not directly beneath the sole of the shoe to a secondheight and keeping the pins directly beneath the shoe at the originalheight. FIG. 3 illustrates a system configured to practice thisalternative means for height differentiation. In this example, uponreceiving the shoe, the system 300 can raise a plate holding the pins.This raising in turn results in the pins beneath the shoe beingcompressed between the raising plate and the shoe, while the pins notbeneath the shoe are raised, in turn raising the remainder portion ofthe adhesive film. The resulting height differential between theadhesive film beneath the shoe and the adhesive film raised by theuncompressed pins results in a sole-shaped demarcation, sheared off andadhered to the sole of the shoe.

FIG. 5 illustrates a second example method embodiment. For the sake ofclarity, the method is described in terms of an exemplary system 200 asshown in FIG. 2 configured to practice the method. The steps outlinedherein are exemplary and can be implemented in any combination thereof,including combinations that exclude, add, or modify certain steps. Asystem 200 configured to perform this method receives a shoe having asole, wherein the sole of the shoe is in contact with an adhesive film(502). The system 200 then applies the adhesive film to the sole of theshoe, wherein a sole-shaped portion of the adhesive film is cut to acontour of the sole, the sole-shaped portion being cut usingmicro-perforations in the adhesive film, the micro-perforations forminga pattern in the adhesive film (504). The application of the adhesivefilm to the sole of the shoe can be performed by pressing pins locatedbeneath the sole of the shoe, and beneath the adhesive film, into thesole. Alternatively, the application of the adhesive film can occur bythe shoe pressing against the adhesive film, which in turn is pressedagainst a plate.

The micro-perforations, or other structure that enables a balance ofshearing/tearing forces as described herein, can be uniform ornon-uniform throughout the adhesive film. For example, themicro-perforations might be patterned in every increasing sole shapes,starting with micro-perforations in the shape of a small sole andincreasing, over multiple iterations, to micro-perforations in the shapeof a large sole. As another example, the micro-perforations may beevenly distributed in a uniform pattern throughout the adhesive film,and not in any particular shape. In yet another example, themicro-perforations can be randomly distributed throughout the adhesivefilm, not following any ordered scheme. In any distribution of themicro-perforations, the distribution of micro-perforations can haveminimum threshold distances between the micro-perforations, where theminimum threshold distance between micro-perforations is calculated toallow for tearing or shearing of the adhesive film at a given heightdifferential, or when a given amount of tension is achieved within theadhesive film.

In configurations with or without micro-perforations, the adhesive filmcan have a balance of physical characteristics where the force requiredto vertically shear the film is greater than the force to performlateral tearing. The user, after adhering the film to the sole of theshoes, can walk away with the soles of their shoes covered with adhesivefilm, thereby preventing tracking of dirt into the house or office. Whenthe user wants to remove the adhesive film from the soles of the shoes,the balance of physical characteristics of the film allows the user toremove the entire sole-shaped piece of adhered film from their shoes ina single pull, rather than having the adhered portion fragment whenpulled.

FIG. 6 illustrates a top-down view of a third example device embodiment600. As illustrated, the device 600 has a sensor 602 to active thedevice 600. The sensor 602 can be a motion sensor, a radio frequencyidentification (RFID) sensor, or can be manual sensor/button that theuser presses. As an example of a manual button, the sensor can be abutton which the user depresses with a foot when approaching the device600.

Upon receiving a signal or indication that the user is in position fromthe sensor 602, the device 600 moves, via spooling or other distributionmethods, adhesive film 604 from a storage area 606 over a predeterminedusage area. The device 600 identifies that the adhesive film 604 ismoved into a correct position using positional markers 608. The adhesivefilm 604 illustrated has two sections 612 having micro-perforations aswell as drawings indicating approximate places for shoe placement. Whenthe adhesive film is positioned correctly, the sections 612 willcorrespond to plates and pins illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 (FIG. 2,items 208A and 212; FIG. 4, items 410 and 412), and can represent shoereceiving areas of the device 600. After use, the remainder of theadhesive film 604 can be rolled into a storage bin 614 for laterremoval.

Certain embodiments can have speakers 610 which output speech andinstructions to the user. For example, the device 600, upon recognizinga specific RFID, and while spooling new unused adhesive film intoposition, can output speech such as, “Welcome back Dr. Smith. Pleasestep forward.” If being used at home, the device 600 could state,“Welcome to the Smith home. Please step onto the platform.” In addition,the device 600 can be equipped with access to the Internet or otherresources which identify reasons for why the device 600 might be neededin any particular instance. For example, the device 600 may determinethat it is raining, and state when the motion sensor is triggered, “Dueto the rain, please use the provided adhesive shoe protection.” Asanother example, the device 600 may be aware that spills have beendetected in a supermarket, and subsequently may produce speech stating,“For your safety, please use the provided adhesive traction for yourshoes.”

FIG. 7 illustrates an example adhesive film 700 having multiple layers702, 704. As illustrated, the top layer 702 has a uniform pattern ofmicro-perforations while the bottom layer 704 has a traction contour.The top layer 704 in this instance would be adhesive on both sides,allowing the top side to adhere to the sole of a user's shoe while thebottom side adheres to the traction layer 704. The multi-layeredadhesive film 700 can be spooled separately, then connected when theuser steps on the top layer, or the multi-layered adhesive film can becombined prior to distribution. In addition, while FIG. 7 illustratesonly the top layer being micro-perforated, other embodiments could havemicro-perforations in both layers. The traction of the bottom layer 704can be created using a contoured material, or can be created using amaterial having a friction coefficient higher than the shoes.

Embodiments having more than two layers are also considered. Forexample, an embodiment could have five or six layers within the adhesivefilm. In addition, these layers may have elements which extend throughevery layer. For example, in an adhesive film which is also meant toprovide ESD (electrostatic discharge) protection, a grounding elementcan extend from the lowest layer up to the portion which adheres to theshoe, completing the ESD circuit.

In yet other embodiments, the adhesive film can have multiple layerswhere the top layer, when cut by pins, adheres to the shoe. The bottomlayer of the adhesive film remains uncut as a single continuous piece,rather than having a hole corresponding to the removed adhesive portion.As a non-limiting example this is similar to a sticker having a backing.In this case, the “sticker” would be adhesive to the sole of a shoe,leaving a continuous bottom layer of film (i.e., the backing) while thetop adhesive layer of film has portions corresponding to theadhered-portions (i.e., the blank area where the sticker used to belocated). The continuous bottom layer can have an elastic quality,allowing it to deform/stretch when the height differential exits withouttearing. In such an example, the top layer would tear, while the bottomlayer stretches and remains continuous. This can be advantageous incollecting the used portions of the adhesive film, as a continuousunused portion is easier to collect than portions having holes. Forexample, rolling a continuous layer of film can be easier than rolling alayer of film having holes

FIG. 8 illustrates a third example method embodiment. For the sake ofclarity, the method is described in terms of an exemplary system 200 asshown in FIG. 2 configured to practice the method. The steps outlinedherein are exemplary and can be implemented in any combination thereof,including combinations that exclude, add, or modify certain steps. Asystem 200 configured to perform this method receives a shoe having asole, wherein the sole of the shoe is in contact with an adhesive film(802). The system 200 then applies the adhesive film to the sole of theshoe, wherein the adhesive film is cut to a contour of the sole,comprises a uniform pattern of micro-perforations, and comprises a firstlayer which is adhesive and a second layer which is a traction layer.

The first, adhesive, layer can be proximal to the sole of the shoe,while the second, traction, layer is respectfully distal to the sole. Inaddition, the adhesive film can be organized into a roll, oralternatively, can be a rolling material. In various configurations, thefirst layer or the second layer may be exclusively micro-perforated,while the other layer is not micro-perforated. In other embodiments, thetwo layers can have mismatched patterns of micro-perforations, such thatthe micro-perforations of the adhesive layer do not align with themicro-perforations of the traction layer.

FIG. 9 illustrates a fourth example method embodiment. For the sake ofclarity, the method is described in terms of an exemplary system 200 asshown in FIG. 2 configured to practice the method. The steps outlinedherein are exemplary and can be implemented in any combination thereof,including combinations that exclude, add, or modify certain steps. Asystem 200 configured to perform this method receives a shoe having asole, wherein the sole of the shoe is in contact with an adhesive film(902). The system 200 then applies the adhesive film to the sole of theshoe, wherein a sole-shaped portion of the adhesive film is cut to acontour of the sole when a vertical adhesive force of the adhesive filmexceeds a lateral adhesive force of the adhesive film (904). The cuttingwhich occurs can be due to a height differential, caused by a raising orlowering of the adhesive film. For example, the adhesive film directlybeneath the sole can lower upon the system 200 receiving the shoe whilethe portion of the adhesive film not directly beneath the sole (i.e.,the remainder portion) is maintained at the initial height.Alternatively, the remainder portion can be raised while the portiondirectly beneath the sole remains at the initial height.

The adhesion process occurs by application of force between the sole ofthe shoe and the adhesive film. In certain instances, the force is fromthe weight of the shoe pressing down upon the adhesive film, whereas inother instances the force is from pins beneath the sole pressing upwardtoward the sole. This second example can, for example, occur when aplate lifts pins upward and only some of the pins are directly beneaththe sole, resulting in remainder pins not pressing into the sole butinstead lifting the remainder of the adhesive film to a height higherthan the original height.

FIG. 10 illustrates a fifth example method embodiment. For the sake ofclarity, the method is described in terms of an exemplary system 200 asshown in FIG. 2 configured to practice the method. The steps outlinedherein are exemplary and can be implemented in any combination thereof,including combinations that exclude, add, or modify certain steps. Asystem 200 configured to perform this method receives an object incontact with a micro-perforated adhesive material (1002). This objectcan be a shoe, a foot, a sandal, or other form of footwear.Alternatively, the object can be any object for which an adhesive filmneeds to be applied to a single side. For example, the object could bean individual's hand, a phone, a computer mouse, or a keyboard. Thesystem 200 then causes an adhesion of a piece of the micro-perforatedadhesive material to the object, to yield an attached piece, theattached piece having a contour associated with a shape of a portion ofthe object that is in contact with the micro-perforated adhesivematerial (1004). The adhesion can occur based on the weight of theobject pressing down on the adhesive material, or can occur based on aforce from the system 200 against the object. The system then cuts theattached piece from the micro-perforated adhesive material (1006). Thecutting can be performed based on a tearing and/or shearing of theadhesive material when the vertical stress exceeds the lateral stress inthe adhesive material.

FIGS. 11A-11D illustrate cartridge embodiments, which can be used toeasily replace the adhesive film used in the described embodiments andvariations. FIG. 11A illustrates a device 1102 similar to that describedin FIG. 2, and an exemplary cartridge 1108. The cartridge system allowsthe user to remove used adhesive film (i.e., those remainder portionswhich were not adhered to shoes, then subsequently rolled into a“discard” roll) and refill unused adhesive film by swapping out anadhesive film cartridge 1108. The cartridge 1108 illustrated has twocylinder rolls 1112 with adhesive film 1114 bridged between the rolls1112. The rolls are housed in square containers 1110 for ease ofhandling and/or to prevent accidental adhesion when performingreplacements. The specific shape of the containers 1110 of adhesive filmcan vary depending on needs and/or configuration. For example, othercontainers 1110 can be circular, oval, rectangular, triangular, oval, orany other desirable shape.

The device 1102 as illustrated has cartridge receiving areas 1109 onboth the left and right of the device 1102, as well as a shoe receivingarea 1116 including material elevators, pins, and plates with holescorresponding to the pins. Within the left and right cartridge receivingareas 1109 are slots 1104, 1106 for holding pieces the square housingcontainers 1110 of the cartridge 1108 in place when the cartridge 1108is inserted into the device 1102. These slots 1104, 1106, also have pinsor shafts 1103, 1105 corresponding to the cartridge rolls 1112. theshafts 1103 can control the unrolling of the unused adhesive film fromthe first roll 1112 in the cartridge 1108, and/or can similarly controlthe rolling of the used adhesive film on the second roll 1112 in thecartridge 1108.

The user, when placing a cartridge 1108 into the device 1102, can lineup the left and right portions of the cartridge 1108 with thecorresponding cartridge receiving areas 1109 of the device 1102. As theuser places the cartridge 1108 into the device 1102, the device can lockthe cartridge into place using the pins 1103, 1105 and/or other lockingmechanisms. The adhesive film 1114 between the right and left portionsof the cartridge 1108 slides over the shoe receiving area 1116. As thedevice 1102 is used, the unused adhesive film is spooled from a firstroller 1112 to the shoe receiving area 1116, users adhere the film totheir footwear, and then the used adhesive film is collected on thesecond roller 1112. Later, when the user needs to replace the cartridge(i.e., the cartridge is empty, or the viability of the adhesive film hasexpired), the user removes the cartridge 1108 from the device 1102.

FIG. 11B illustrates a cartridge without additional housing, and issimilar to a scroll. A first cylinder 1118 has rolled around it unusedadhesive film 1122, which continues on to a second cylinder 1120. Bothcylinders 1118, 1120 are inserted into a device together, with the film1122 over the shoe receiving area. During use used portions of theadhesive film are collected on the second cylinder 1120, resulting in aroll of used adhesive film around in the second cylinder 1120. Whenreplaced, both cylinders are removed.

FIG. 11C illustrates the cartridge of FIG. 11B with an additionalhousing 1124 and a battery pack 1121. The housing 1124 can aid the userin moving and inserting the cartridge. The location of the battery pack1121 is exemplary, and can be located elsewhere in the cartridge or as aseparate item inserted into the device 1102. For example, the batterypack can be built into the housing 1124 or can be located in the spindleof the rollers 1118, 1120. The battery pack 1121 can be used to powerthe entire device 1102, or can be used to power just thecartridge/distribution of adhesive film. For example, if the batterypack 1121 powers the entire device, the battery pack 1121 can powermotion sensors, voice controls, speakers, and/or the distribution ofadhesive film. FIG. 11D illustrates the cartridge of FIG. 11C from a topperspective.

Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure may also includetangible and/or non-transitory computer-readable storage media forcarrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structuresstored thereon. Such tangible computer-readable storage media can be anyavailable media that can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer, including the functional design of any special purposeprocessor as described above. By way of example, and not limitation,such tangible computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM,CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carryor store desired program code means in the form of computer-executableinstructions, data structures, or processor chip design. Wheninformation is transferred or provided over a network or anothercommunications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or combinationthereof) to a computer, the computer properly views the connection as acomputer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed acomputer-readable medium. Combinations of the above should also beincluded within the scope of the computer-readable media.

Computer-executable instructions include, for example, instructions anddata which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer,or special purpose processing device to perform a certain function orgroup of functions. Computer-executable instructions also includeprogram modules that are executed by computers in stand-alone or networkenvironments. Generally, program modules include routines, programs,components, data structures, objects, and the functions inherent in thedesign of special-purpose processors, etc. that perform particular tasksor implement particular abstract data types. Computer-executableinstructions, associated data structures, and program modules representexamples of the program code means for executing steps of the methodsdisclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executableinstructions or associated data structures represents examples ofcorresponding acts for implementing the functions described in suchsteps.

Other embodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in networkcomputing environments with many types of computer systemconfigurations, including personal computers, hand-held devices,multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and thelike. Embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by local and remote processingdevices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, orby a combination thereof) through a communications network. In adistributed computing environment, program modules may be located inboth local and remote memory storage devices.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way ofillustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of thedisclosure. For example, the principles herein apply equally toapplication of adhesive film using devices and systems which can beoperate on a purely mechanical basis, can be operated by computingdevices, or which are operated using a hybrid of mechanical and computerprocessing. Various modifications and changes may be made to theprinciples described herein without following the example embodimentsand applications illustrated and described herein, and without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

We claim:
 1. A method comprising: receiving an object an adjustableheight surface of a system, the adjustable height surface being at afirst height, wherein the object is in contact with an adhesive film;and applying the adhesive film to the object by: lowering the adjustableheight surface upon receiving the object to yield the adjustable heightsurface at a second height; and forming the adhesive film to at leastpart of the object via use of a height differentiation between theadjustable height surface at the second height and a surroundingnon-adjustable height surface at the first height, wherein the secondheight is lower than the first height.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe adhesive film is cut into a sole-shaped portion via shearing by theheight differentiation that occurs by lowering, from the first height tothe second height, first pins located below the sole-shaped portion dueto a weight of the object while second pins retain a remainder portionof the adhesive film, the remainder portion comprising the adhesive filmwithout the sole-shaped portion, at the first height.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the adhesive film comprises a pattern ofmicro-perforations.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the pattern ofmicro-perforations is uniform throughout the adhesive film.
 5. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the pattern of micro-perforations is notuniform throughout the adhesive film.
 6. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising, prior to receiving the object, receiving an input indicatingthat a user is in position to provide the object.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein the adhesive film has a balance of physical characteristicswhich allow removal of a portion of the adhesive film from the objectwithout fragmenting a portion of the adhesive film formed to the object.8. The method of claim 1, further comprising replacing the adhesive filmvia a disposable cartridge.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the objectcomprises a footwear or a sole of a footwear.
 10. A system comprising: aprocessor; an object receiving area; and a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium having instructions stored which, whenexecuted, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: uponreceiving an object into the object receiving area of the system,wherein the object is in contact with an adhesive film, applying theadhesive film to the object, wherein a sole-shaped portion of theadhesive film is shaped to a contour of the object via a heightdifferentiation between an inner height surface beneath the object and asurrounding outer height surface positioned at a height different from aheight of the inner height surface after receiving the object.
 11. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the adhesive film is cut into a sole-shapedportion via shearing by the height differentiation that occurs bylowering, from a first height to a second height, first pins definingthe inner height surface and located below the sole-shaped portion dueto a weight of the object while second pins defining the surroundingouter height surface retain a remainder portion of the adhesive film,the remainder portion comprising the adhesive film without thesole-shaped portion, at the first height.
 12. The system of claim 10,wherein the adhesive film is cut into a sole-shaped portion via shearingby the height differentiation that occurs by maintaining first pinsdefining the inner height surface and located below the sole-shapedportion at a first height while raising second pins defining thesurrounding outer height surface and located beneath a remainder portionof the adhesive film to a second height, the remainder portioncomprising the adhesive film without the sole-shaped portion.
 13. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the adhesive film comprises a pattern ofmicro-perforations.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the pattern ofmicro-perforations is uniform throughout the adhesive film.
 15. Thesystem of claim 13, wherein the pattern of micro-perforations is notuniform throughout the adhesive film.
 16. The system of claim 10,further comprising a user detection sensor.
 17. The system of claim 16,wherein the user detection sensor comprises one of a radio frequencydetection system, a motion detection system, and a mechanical inputbutton.
 18. The system of claim 10, wherein the object comprises one offootwear or a sole of the footwear.
 19. The system of claim 10, furthercomprising a removable cartridge system, wherein the removable cartridgesystem contains the adhesive film.
 20. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium having instructions stored which, whenexecuted by a processor in a device, cause the device to performoperations comprising: receiving, on an adhesive film configured on thedevice, an object, wherein the object is in contact with the adhesivefilm; and forming the adhesive film in a sole shape to the object,wherein a sole-shaped portion of the adhesive film is formed to acontour of the object via a height differentiation between an innerheight surface located beneath the object and an adjacent outer heightsurface entirely surrounding the inner height surface and positioned ata height different than a height of the inner height surface.
 21. Amethod for securing an adhesive film to an object, the methodcomprising: positioning the adhesive film above an adjustable heightsurface at a first height; receiving the object on the adhesive filmabove the adjustable height surface; lowering the adjustable heightsurface to a second height below the first height upon receiving theobject to yield a lowered adjustable height surface; and forming theadhesive film to the object via a height differentiation between thelowered adjustable height surface and an adjacent non-adjustable heightsurface entirely surrounding the lowered adjustable height surface andpositioned at the first height.
 22. The method of claim 21, whereinforming the adhesive film to the object further comprises cutting theadhesive film to a contour of the object via a shearing of a sole-shapeddemarcation in the adhesive film using the height differentiation. 23.The method of claim 22, wherein the adhesive film comprises a pattern ofmicro-perforations.